City of Joliet Council Meeting Oct 6, 2026

The Joliet City Council meeting was held October 6, 2026. The council approved contract awards and other spending, including Contract No. 2939-4026 for four alternative-water-supply storage tanks to Fisher Tank Company for $41,025,400. Staff said the bid exceeded the preliminary estimate because the estimate used the wrong tank specification, steel costs had risen about 25%, and few firms could perform the specialized work; the two bids were within 1.8% of each other. The council also approved a $1,242,600 award to Hair Construction for sewer rehabilitation associated with the 2027 water-main replacement program, plus a $69,900 RJN Group services amendment. Consent approvals included Ontario Street drainage improvements ($132,830.03), engineering services for the Des Plaines River tunnel project, a wastewater-treatment-plant pump purchase ($60,275), and a $670,647.45 MJ Electric change order. Several water-main project closeouts included deductions/credits, including $2,175,831.71 for the North Downtown project.

The council also approved payment of $104,791.32 to Locality Media/First Due for web-based fire-inspection services; accepted 2025 Justice Assistance Grant funds and approved a 2026 city–county justice-grant agreement, CDBG subrecipient agreements, and related police and fire agreements. No grant totals were stated. A resolution extending Poet Laureate Uxmar Torres’s literary arts services agreement through December 31, 2027, passed; supporters said the extension would avoid a gap while the Arts Commission develops an RFP and selects a successor. The Diversity and Community Relations Committee also approved formal CDBG program policies and procedures, including standardized procurement/application processes. Most spending and contract items presented for action were approved; the tax-levy item was deferred to the November 2 meeting.